Topics

1

Romanov and Imperial Russia Links / New article on Nicholas II's coronation

« on: October 31, 2012, 03:27:38 PM »

http://www.bl.uk/eblj/2012articles/article9.html

As also posted in the "Imperial Russian History" area....

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Imperial Russian History / The coronation of Nicholas II: through contemporary eyes

« on: October 31, 2012, 03:26:07 PM »

Please see this new article by Greg King and me, published in the British Library's journal (which also published a previous article of mine on Alexandra's spiritual life): -

http://www.bl.uk/eblj/2012articles/article9.html

This article is the first piece of our research on Nicholas's coronation to be published, but there's much more. The article analyses the coronation contemporaries saw, from the planning to Khodynka, via their opinions of Nicholas and Alexandra. It features journalists, bishops, royalty, foreign tourists and lots more.

Because this in an academic journal the style is a little different to the bigger work we're completing, but we think it's enjoyable enough! The pictures all come from the original coronation album.

3

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Joseph Fuhrmann: Rasputin, the untold Story

« on: October 19, 2012, 03:28:37 PM »

I am very surprised that no-one else has noticed this one yet! :-

http://www.amazon.com/Rasputin-Untold-Joseph-T-Fuhrmann/dp/1118172760

It's been years in the coming, and is far more than a revised version of his old, highly-readable 1990 biography. Joe Fuhrmann spent years after the fall of Communism researching in archives in Moscow and Siberia, gathering new material on Rasputin's life, and it has all been woven into this book. His view of Rasputin has always been down to earth and unmelodramatic, looking at him as human being rather than a saint or devil. This is supplemented by his thorough understanding of the political context - since Joe is an academic historian who edited Nicholas and Alexandra's wartime correspondence and did truly in-depth notes on the letters. His style, though, is very accessible - this isn't an ivory-tower book at all - he always puts things simply and directly; I like his style. Finally, he also takes a full look at some of the recent revisionist theories on Rasputin's murder and assesses them all to come to his own conclusions.

When I first began serious research on Nicholas and Alexandra in 2001, Joe's sensitive and nuanced bio of Rasputin was one of the biggest influences on my thinking, and it has been an honour to get to know him (courtesy initially of Greg King) and to be able to bring this book to your attention now, hoping you enjoy it and will debate it with interest (but play nice, please! :-) ).

4

The Myth and Legends of Survivors / Entertaining speculation on fictional character...

« on: December 04, 2011, 04:13:31 AM »

Yesterday, when searching for some info about a place in the Alps, I stumbled across THIS board,

http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/index.php

 devoted to discussion of the huge series of books about the fictional Chalet School. I was obsessed by these books when aged about 9 to 11; it was the setting and slew of languages that appealed.
Anyway, on the board I found THIS thread, and could see where it was going from the moment I read the first post: -  

http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10106

Anyone else here who is familiar with those books (and I believe at least ONE person who reads and posts from time to time is) may find it really funny, so I thought I'd share it....(hell, some of the participants in that thread may also lurk here....)

5

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Zoia Beliakova's book: Honour and Fidelity, the Russian Dukes of Leuchtenberg

« on: May 01, 2011, 09:41:02 AM »

I'm a little surprised that this book doesn't have its own thread yet (at least not that I could find!).

Well - anyway - this latest volume by the author of such other respected works as "The way it was" and "Maria Nikolaevna and her palace in Petersburg" has been published in limited edition: - 500 copies each in Russian and English. It is very good - well-researched and with lots of interesting pictures of this branch of the family and their homes. If you'd like a copy of the English version, Sue Woolmans currently has them for £23 ($38.50) plus postage and will be glad to sell you one if you drop her a line at woolmans@aol.com, and can pass the proceeds to Zoia personally when she sees her later this month.

6

Romanov and Imperial Russia Links / Nicholas's Grand tour of the east

« on: September 27, 2009, 07:00:20 AM »

A link to my article elsewhere: -

http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/janet-ashton/834-nicholas-iis-feted-journey-the-1890-grand-tour-of-the-east

7

The Imperial Family / Feuds, feuds and more feuds

« on: March 11, 2009, 01:51:53 PM »

A propos the conversations in the Vladimir thread about feuds among Romanovs, I thought it would be amusing to list a few of the poisonous relationships in the last two generations.....(if anyone can bear the bile!)

Alexander III loathed his uncle Konstantin Nikolaevich
Alexander III also hated his uncle Nikolai Nikolaevich senior
Maria Feodorovna hated Maria Pavlovna
Maria Pavlovna hated or depised Maria Feodorovna
Olga Feodorovna despised or looked down on Maria Feodorovna
Nikolai Mikhailovich hated Nikolai Nikolaevich junior
Nikolai Mikhailovich hated Anastasia, wife of Nikolai Nikolaevich junior
Nikolai Mikhailovich was not over-fond of Alexandra Feodorovna
Alexandra Feodorovna did not like Nikolai Mikhailovich
Alexandra Feodorvna fell out with Anastasia and Nikolai Nikolaevich junior
Maria Feodorovna did not like Alexandra Feodorovna
Alexandra Feodorovna did not like Miechen
Victoria Feodorovna did not like Alexandra Feodorovna
Alexander Mikhailovich hated Sergei Alexandrovich
Alexander Mikhailovich despised most of his relations, in fact.....

And on it goes......

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Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Frances Welch's next book: on H.M.S Marlborough

« on: June 28, 2008, 08:25:55 AM »

Dear all
      I am posting this here, hoping it's the best place, although I will make the same post under discussion related to the Dowager Empress, in case people miss this section.

Frances Welch, author of "The Romanovs and Mr Gibbes" and of "A Romanov Fantasy: life at the Court of Anna Anderson" is now researching a book on the voyage of H.M.S. Marlborough from Yalta to Malta in 1919.

If there is anyone in this forum who has an interest in this topic - ranging from ancestors in some way involved in the voyage to contacts with others whose families played a part - and is willing to talk to Frances, please send me a PM with your contact details, and I will pass them on.

With many thanks

Janet

9

Alexandra Feodorovna / Nicholas and Alexandra as mainstream cultural phenomenon

« on: January 27, 2008, 09:32:31 AM »

Today I was in WHSmiths buying various cards for peoples' birthdays etc. I took a look at the (dreadful) Valentine's section, and there in the middle of one row was a card with a quote I recognised: "I love you, those three words have my life in them" - duly attributed to Alexandra, writing to Nicholas (though they called him "Nicholas III"!).

Just thought it was interesting to note how utterly mainstream and well-known their story has become, that they are now even on greeting cards.....